Tri-City tames rival Spokane 4-1
The Tri-City Americans scored three goals in the second period — two by Tyler Sandhu — to beat the Spokane Chiefs 4-1 on Saturday night in front of an announced crowd of 4,217 at Toyota Center.
Tri-City (24-25-2-1, 51 points) pulled within three points of Portland and Kamloops, who both lost Saturday, for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Spokane (26-21-3-2, 57 points) remained in sixth place.
Sandhu opened the scoring at 6:09 of the second. Austyn Playfair had his third goal of the season on an assist by Beau McCue at 14:45.
Sandhu’s goal at 17:03 gave the Americans a 3-0 lead. It was Sandhu’s 14th goal of the season.
McCue added his 20th goal at 2:17 of the third.
Taylor Ross got the Chiefs on the board at 6:20.
Tri-City goaltender Evan Sarthou stopped 27 shots for his 21st win of the season.
The Americans concluded a 2-0-0-1 homestand and will hit the road this week. They play at Kootenay on Wednesday in a rare 11 a.m. game, then head to Lethbridge on Friday, Red Deer on Feb. 13 and Edmonton on Feb. 15. They’ll be back in Kennewick on Feb. 19 to face the Everett Silvertips.
The Chiefs and Americans next meet Feb. 20 in Spokane.
Spokane 0 0 1 - 1
Tri-City 0 3 1 - 4
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Fiala Spo (major-fighting), 10:11; Stewart TC (major-fighting), 10:11; Henderson Spo (hooking), 15:22.
2nd Period-1, Tri-City, Sandhu 13 (Rasmussen, Lukin), 6:09. 2, Tri-City, Playfair 3 (McCue), 14:45. 3, Tri-City, Sandhu 14 (Rasmussen, Carlo), 17:03. Penalties-James TC (holding), 0:44; Miske Spo (tripping), 1:15; James TC (tripping), 3:00; Ke. Yamamoto Spo (roughing), 6:09; Topping TC (roughing), 6:09; Stewart TC (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 18:34.
3rd Period-4, Tri-City, McCue 20 (James, Playfair), 2:17. 5, Spokane, Ross 2 (Ke. Yamamoto), 6:20. Penalties-Hamaliuk Spo (major-fighting), 4:05; Stewart TC (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 4:05; Bechtold Spo (roughing), 10:42; Topping TC (interference, roughing), 10:42; served by Miske Spo (too many men), 13:07; Bechtold Spo (charging, 10-minute misconduct), 13:36.
Shots on Goal-Spokane 9-11-8-28. Tri-City 9-12-18-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Spokane 0/5; Tri-City 0/4.
Goalies-Spokane, Verhelst 20-16-0-2 (39 shots-35 saves). Tri-City, Sarthou 21-22-2-0 (28 shots-27 saves).
A-4,217.
Referees-Jeff Ingram (82), Curtis Marouelli (86).
Linesmen-Michael McGowan (41), Nathan Van Oosten (115).
This story was originally published February 6, 2016 at 10:40 PM with the headline "Tri-City tames rival Spokane 4-1."